chán
[t͡ɕaːn˧˦]
The English word "bored" is translated into Vietnamese as chán.
The word chán is used to describe the feeling of being bored or the quality of something being boring. While it primarily refers to boredom, related compound words can shift the meaning toward being discouraged or depressed.
Meaning: suffering from boredom (adj)
Which one should you use?
The single word chán serves a dual purpose in English, functioning as both the adjective for a person's feeling (bored) and the adjective for a thing's quality (boring).
How does it change in a sentence?
You can intensify or modify the sense of boredom using specific colloquial additions. Adding ngắt to create chán ngắt describes something that is extremely boring or dead boring. Using chán ngấy expresses being fed up or sick and tired of a repetitive situation. To express a feeling of being discouraged or depressed, use the compound chán nản.
Did you know?
- Vietnamese culture often uses the phrase chán đời, which literally means 'bored with life', as a common colloquial way to say one is feeling pessimistic or depressed.
- You can use chán to describe a lack of appetite or being 'tired' of a certain food, often linked to the sensation of being 'fed up'.
- To express extreme boredom, speakers may use chán chết, which literally translates to 'bored to death'.
Examples in context
- Tom trông có vẻ chán.Tom seemed bored.This sentence shows how to describe someone appearing to be bored using chán.Tatoeba #13341050 by leucammieuvu, translation #4266722 by CK
- Tôi chán vì tôi không có gì để làm cả.I'm bored because I have nothing to do.This sentence illustrates expressing the reason for being bored using chán.Tatoeba #11356334 by chaule3, translation #11356332 by chaule3
- Tớ có thể xem ti-vi cả ngày không chán.I can watch TV all day without getting bored.This sentence shows how to express doing something without getting bored using chán.Tatoeba #6275449 by moriole, translation #2301420 by CK
- Tôi cảm thấy chán ngắt trong lớp họcI feel bored in class
- Công việc này thật mệt mỏi và chán chườngThis job is really tiring and boring
- Tôi đã đọc xong cuốn sách này rồi, thật chán chườngI've finished reading this book, it's really boring
- Tôi chán quá rồiI'm so bored
- Cô này chẳng bao giờ chán chơiShe never gets bored of playing
- Buổi họp này dài chán chảy nước miếngThis meeting is so long and incredibly boring
- Cuộc trò chuyện này thật buồn tẻThis conversation is really boring
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are waiting at a bus stop.
- HươngXe buýt lâu quá, em thấy chán.The bus is taking too long, I'm bored.
- TuấnVậy mình cùng chơi trò chơi đi.Then let's play a game together.
- HươngÝ kiến hay đó, Tuấn!That's a great idea, Tuấn!
- TuấnĐể anh tìm trò gì vui nhé.Let me find something fun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bored” translations and entries chán, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
